Increased Obesity in the United States - Assignment Example

The statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that approximately 78.6 million adults in the United States are obese which is 34.9%. Obesity in the United States became an epidemic and the second cause of preventable death. Also, medical treatment of obesity is highly expensive. For example, medical expenditures for obesity were 11.1 billion dollars in 2009. Appropriate preventable and controlling actions of public medical health care systems may help to decrease the rate of obese people, save hundreds of dollars and increase overall life expectancy. (СDC,2014)

DISCUSSION
Several effective ways may help to decrease the rate of obesity and prevent its further development in the population. They include next options:
• Formation of the appropriate community environment that promotes and maintains healthy food and beverage intake. Increase the availability of healthy food that meets the requirements of communities; decrease the level of sugary beverage consumption, making clean and potable water available in different public places.
• Creation of a public environment that promotes and maintains physical activity. Development of open public places for safe physical activities.

• Increase the level of early child care that will help to decrease and prevent childhood obesity.
• Increase the awareness of the population about healthy lifestyle
(Healthy New York, 2013)
The Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program (NPAO) is an example of a state and local program that focuses on the implementation of healthy nutrition and physical activity among Americans that helps to prevent obesity and other related chronic diseases. NPAO is a cooperative agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program (DNPAO) and 25 health departments. The main purpose of the DNPAO function is the maintenance of a healthy way of life that involves healthy eating, regular physical activity, and the reduction of the increased obesity rate in the United States. DNPAO performs its main goals through the development of healthy childcare centers, hospitals, schools, and worksites and; the conduct of different investigations related to obesity or other chronic diseases. DNPAO`s three main goals include: improvement of the dietary quality to decrease the rate of chronic illness and control healthy child development; increase physical activity for people of all ages; reduce the rate of obesity through maintenance of healthy weight and prevention of weight gain. DNPAO developed five major strategies that include all possible health promotion activities and can be used by health departments directly or in cooperation with other health departments. (CDC,2015)

DNPAO`s enhanced strategies and sub-strategies are the following:
1. Increase access to healthy food and beverages
• Support access to healthier food retail (HFR) involves increasing the number of stores that sell healthier food and beverages through the creation of new stores or by improving the quality, variety promotion, and amount of healthier food at existing stores. Accordingly, to the Dietary Guidance for Americans healthier foods contain vegetables, fruits, lean meat, and fish, low–fat or fat-free dairy products, and foods that include decreased amounts of sodium, trans and saturated fats, cholesterol, and sugars. Healthier beverages include water, 100% juice, low-fat or fat-free milk, and low-fat, lactose-free products.
• Provide access to farmers' markets. This will help to increase public access to fresh vegetables and fruits. Especially, it will enhance the possibility of low-income families buying fruits and vegetables at a lower cost.
2. Implement nutrition standards where food and beverages are available
• Implement nutrition standards. Food Service Guidelines (FSG) are instructions for organizations and programs to form and control healthy eating and drinking in public places such as cafeterias, snack bars, and vending machines. Worksites and communities can implement FSG in state and local governmental, nongovernmental, business organizations, recreation, and park food services.
3. Increase physical activity access and promotion
• Create public access to places for physical activity. This initiative will help to enhance the physical activity level. The implementation of this initiative involves building sports trails or facilities and decreasing different barriers such as the high cost of fitness facilities.
• Design streets and communities for physical activity
4. Implement physical activity in early care and education.
Meet national standards for physical activity in childcare centers, preschools, and kindergartens. That`s will help to establish healthy activity habits among children during their development phase.
5. Increase access to breastfeeding-friendly environments. (CDC,2015) Read More